Cello
Canadian-American cellist Amélie Fradette was born in Saguenay, Quebec where she studied at le Conservatoire de musique de Chicoutimi. She obtained her bachelor’s of music and master’s of music degrees from le Conservatoire de musique de Montreal with Guy Fouquet. She was honored with le Prix avec Grande Distinction, the conservatory’s most prestigious award. Amélie continued her studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Richard Aaron and at Yale University with Aldo Parisot.
Since 2001, she has been a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. As a soloist, Amélie has performed with l’Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay Lac-St-Jean, l’Orchestre de chambre de Montreal, l’Orchestre du Conservatoire de musique de Montreal, Ars Nova chamber orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic orchestra. The Buffalo News praised her as “a spectacularly gifted cellist”. As a recitalist, she played several times for les Jeunesses Musicales du Canada and recorded live recitals for “Espace Musique” the network of Radio-Canada. She received the “Excellence” scholarship from l’Institut des Arts au Saguenay and was the 1st prizewinner at le Concours de Musique du Royaume. Amélie has participated in numerous festivals, including le Domaine Forget, Festival de musique de chambre de Montreal, le Centre d’Arts Orford, Sarasota Music Festival and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She attended Music Academy of the West on full scholarship and was awarded a fellowship to study at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado.
A sought-after chamber music player, Amélie regularly performs with the Buffalo Chamber Players, Trio con Fuoco and also in a cello ensemble with other members of the BPO. Amélie often plays concerts with the Chautauqua Symphony orchestra during the summer months.